THE JAZZ SERIES by ELENA HIATT HOULIHAN

CURRENTLY ON EXHIBITION AT MANCHESTER CRAFTSMEN'S GUILD, PITTSBURGH, PA

The Jazz Series was inspired by a passage in Margaret Mead’s autobiography, Blackberry Winter. She described studying a tribal people who possessed synesthesia: an amazing transference of the senses in which hearing a sound causes one to see color. I decided to perform an artistic experiment. Could I develop the ability to see colors when I heard sounds? When I went out to listen to jazz, I would close my eyes and absorb the music in a near meditative state. A quick sketch on a napkin in a jazz cafe in San Francisco became a brilliant red painting, Rhythm Sweet and Hot. The plaintive notes of “Good Night, Sweetheart,” a haunting sax solo, inspired Night Wailin’. Each large painting began as a thumbnail sketch, and each remains remarkably true to the concept of the miniature. Musical shapes were translated into paint on canvas or enamel on steel with collaged elements of handmade Japanese paper. Panels are suspended from angled bars hung from the ceiling to create what I call “mixed-media paintings.” One-third of the purchase price will be donated to the Jazz Program at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild.

Acrylic on canvas, Painted Japanese paper, Wood hanging bar. 8' H x 6' W. Inspired by Eddie Shaw playing Sax on "Goodnight Sweetheart, it's time to go." Site view in my former living room/gallery in Pittsburgh.